Gulls Go Big in Japan on Career-Defining Journey

Creating Enriching Experiences with Support from the Freeman Foundation 

Thanks to a generous grant from the Freeman Foundation, Gulls are gaining transformative hands-on experiential learning and international exposure. The foundation’s support has allowed students like Kelly O’Donnell ’24 and Olivia Cafarelli ’25 to participate in the Japan travel course, a pivotal part of Endicott’s mission to integrate global perspectives into students’ academic journeys.

O’Donnell, a marketing, communications, and advertising major, had already studied in Greece, Kenya, and Ireland before her trip to Japan. “This travel course was a perfect opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” O’Donnell shared.

Along with 11 other students, O’Donnell spent the spring 2024 semester preparing for this journey through the Japan: Workplace, Economy, and Culture course with Dean of International Education Warren Jaferian. In the course, the students worked with Japanese organizations like Kokuyo and the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad to tackle real-world business challenges, learn about Japanese work culture, and deliver marketing and strategic solutions.

Cafarelli, a communications major with an art history minor, worked with Kokuyo on how to penetrate Western markets. The team’s insights into store redesigns and marketing initiatives also offered tangible ways for Kokuyo to connect with younger, international audiences.

The Freeman Foundation’s commitment to fostering U.S.-Asia relations has made these enriching experiences possible. Endicott, one of the few institutions to travel to Japan during the pandemic, built a strong relationship with the foundation, which remains instrumental in offering students opportunities beyond traditional study abroad experiences.

Through these immersive internships, students like O’Donnell and Cafarelli are not just learning about different cultures, they’re already entering careers that require global awareness and cross-cultural competence. After graduating, O’Donnell fulfilled her lifelong dream of working in another country, accepting a full-time social media role for ASA Brands in Cork, Ireland—all thanks to Endicott’s powerful combination of academic rigor and real-world experience.